Everton face a stern test this weekend as they welcome Crystal Palace, the only unbeaten side in the Premier League, to Hill Dickinson Stadium, Softfootball can confirm. Looking from both sides’ antecedents, the table might turn when they meet on Sunday, as Everton, who have recorded six wins in their last 10 meetings, look like an unfit side. Everton’s last meeting at home with Palace ended in a 2-1 win for the Toffees; a story David Moyes would love to tell this weekend but wishes he could play the game.
After a bright start to the season, David Moyes’ men have faltered, failing to win in four consecutive matches across all competitions. A 2-0 Carabao Cup exit to Wolves and a late Jarrod Bowen equaliser against West Ham highlighted recurring issues: poor finishing, defensive lapses, and an over-reliance on individuals. Strikers Beto and new signing Thierno Barry have yet to make their mark, leaving the Toffees toothless in attack.
Crystal Palace, meanwhile, arrive in blistering form. Oliver Glasner has transformed them from relegation strugglers a year ago into Europe’s hottest team, unbeaten in 19 matches double the run of second-best Barcelona. Watch Eddie Nketiah goal against Kyiv below as shown on the club’s official X handle:
Their recent 2-1 victory over Liverpool, courtesy of an Ismaila Sarr opener and a late Eddie Nketiah winner, and even a 3-0 win over Aston Villa underlined their resilience and tactical discipline. Already a two trophy winner with Palace, Glasner could surpass Bert Head’s long-standing club record of 19 games unbeaten with a positive result at Goodison.
According to Glasner after Palace’s first European 2-0 win against Dinamo Kyiv said the team is hungry for more, which spark a never surrender mentality from the Eagle. Watch an excerpt of Glasner’s thought below as released on Palace’s official X handle:
The contest offers intriguing duels. Jack Grealish, thriving under Moyes with license to roam, will clash with the energetic Daniel Muñoz down Palace’s right flank.
Iliman Ndiaye, Everton’s leading scorer with just two goals, faces a stern test against Tyrick Mitchell, who has added attacking flair to his defensive stability.
Team news
Meanwhile, Moyes will miss Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall through suspension, which will likely move Grealish centrally and giving youngster Tyler Dibling a starting role, while defensive injuries persist.
Palace’s only absentee is Cheikh Doucouré, though Glasner may rotate, possibly starting Nketiah ahead of Yeremy Pino. Both managers are expected to stick close to their usual lineups, with Everton relying on Pickford, Tarkowski, and Keane at the back, while Palace lean on their well-drilled back three and lively attack led by Mateta and Sarr.
In essence, the fixture pits Everton’s search for stability against Palace’s historic run of form. While Moyes’ men hope home advantage will reignite their momentum, Glasner’s Eagles aim to extend an extraordinary unbeaten streak that has already rewritten club history.
Predicted Crystal Palace Lineup: Henderson; Richards, Lacroix, Guehi; Munoz, Wharton, Kamada, Mitchell; Pino, Sarr; Mateta.
Predicted Everton Lineup: Pickford; O’Brien, Tarkowski, Keane, Mykolenko; Garner, Gueye; Dibling, Grealish, Ndiaye; Beto
The game will be played by 2pm on Sunday at the Hill Dickinson Stadium.
